We can learn much today about our Lord and his servants.
David (1-7)
1 Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”
1 Last words of David / the oracle of David:
Not his death-bed words.
Not his last words as king.
But his last literary work for Israel.
1 In relationship with God
1 The sweet psalmist of Israel: He knew God had raised him up, a simple son of Jesse, but anointed by God. For David, though, he merely walked with God, praying and singing his way through life.
You see, David’s psalms were David’s prayers, his worship of God in song and poem form.
For all he accomplished, he felt it all flowed from his personal relationship with God.
God’s heart for people:
Exodus 19:6 (ESV) — 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…
1 Peter 2:5 (ESV) — 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2 An instrument of God
2 The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.
Here we have a description of inspiration of Scripture in the Old Testament.
Jesus referred to David’s inspiration — Matthew 22:43 (ESV) — 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord [in Pslam 110]…?
Peter referred to David’s inspiration — Acts 2:30-31 (ESV) — 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke…
The church referred to David’s inspiration — Acts 4:24–25 (ESV) — 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
He felt he was an instrument in the hand of God.
Do you?
3 In alignment with God
David’s purposes were blessed by God, partly because he was rightly aligned with God by fearing his name.
3 God / Rock / said / When one rules justly over men / ruling in the fear of God
4 He dawns on them like the morning light
5 Does not my house stand so with God?
6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away…
This is a prophetic word about the kings which would descend from David.
Some were aligned, some weren’t.
Jesus was more aligned than David!
Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) — 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore…
Get aligned!
David’s Chiefs (8-17)
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.
9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.
11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the LORD 17 and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
10 The LORD brought about a great victory / 12 The LORD worked a great victory:
Point — it all came from God.
He can help you…
1 Face overwhelming odds (Josheb-basshebeth)
8 He wielded his spear against eight hundred:
Early church
2 Continue in the fight (Eleazar)
10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword.
Romans 5:2–4 (ESV) — 2 …we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…
3 Stand their ground (Shammah)
11, 12 A plot of ground full of lentils / he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it:
Think about your own life.
Where do you face overwhelming odds?
Where do you need strength to continue?
What ground must you defend?
1 John 4:4 (ESV) — 4 …he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
4 Please David’s heart (Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah)
15-16 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David.
David felt allegiance like that should only belong to God.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV) — 4 …so we speak, not to please man, but to please God…
David’s Men (18-38)
18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 19 He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels [lion-like, distinguished warriors] of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. 23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
24a Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty;
24b Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, 27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezro of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
1 Have differing gifts and callings
Gifts:
18 Abishai / three hundred men
20-22 Benaiah / Two ariels / a lion in a pit on a snowy day / an Egyptian, a handsome man
Callings:
19 [Abishai] was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
23 [Benaiah] was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three.
1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (NLT) — 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
2 Are honored by God
24-38 One of the thirty / thirty-seven in all:
My desire: 2 John 8 (ESV) — 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Daniel 12:3 (ESV) — 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
3 Bring honor to the name of their king
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had:
Bondservants:
Romans 1:1 (NKJV) — 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ…
2 Peter 1:1 (NKJV) — 1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ…
Jude 1 (NKJV) — 1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James…
Close
There is a sense in which all this was designed to motivate allegiance to God and his purposes on earth.